It’s anchored by a classic underdog story about a high school boys’ soccer team that beats all the odds in pursuit of a championship win. The boys are funny and endearing, and many of them are also navigating their own struggles and heartbreaks.
The leads, Chen Jing Ke and Esther Yu, play the team’s coach and team manager. I wouldn’t say it’s a stand-out role for either of them, but both actors give heartfelt performances, and the progression of their characters’ relationship — from their battle of wits at the beginning to their professional partnership, mutual support, and growing feelings for each other — feels natural even though the romance isn’t the primary focus of the story.
It’s also nice to see Esther Yu in a role that’s a bit more mature and serious than the cute, bubbly types she often plays.
As the characters help each other face emotions like guilt, regret, and self-doubt instead of bottling them up, the series highlights the value of having community — family, friends, teachers/mentors — as a support during difficult times.
It’s a mostly feel-good series that I’d rate at an 8.5 — worth watching once for the heartwarming story and capable cast, but not a rewatch.
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A 50 Episode Weekend Drama in Disguise: All Over the Place & Too Little Episodes
I knew not to expect much when the AWARD WINNING movie by the ML that had everyone gagged was entirely AI. I could not stop laughing at this absurd premise in the beginning and it went downhill from there. This is the strongest support for why I dislike ensemble casts for 12/16 episode dramas. Reminded me a lot of Record of Youth (but somehow worse with weaker acting). Never focusing clearly on the leads and way too much screen time for supporting characters. A lot of people say they liked the beginning while others like the 2nd half. But I honestly never had much hope for this drama. From the start, the story was operating on a flimsy foundation:- The Weak “Love Story”
The writer relies on these ~aesthetic~ flashback montages to establish how the leads like each other instead of SHOWING us how they fell in love. I felt no connection to their love story, and had no reason to root for them when all it took in their past was her pointing a camera at him + him saying “your dream is nice” for them to like each other. Then the present day too, I really don’t get why the FL even liked ML again after all that trauma she faced in the past because of her choices involving him + the way he barges in after 15 years. The ML at least had a very messed up physiological reason to like the FL, she being the only kind person in his life when he was being abused + his crazy family situation. I understand him forming an attachment to her (even tho it’s super toxic for him), but the FL honestly had no STRONG reason to want to get back together with him imo. The way he barged into her life like he didn’t go no contact for 15 YEARS when he knew where she worked, and immediately placed himself in a position of power over her is so weird too. The writers failed to make me want them back together cause I thought the whole relationship was toxic for them both, and not important enough for the FL. If the ex-boyfriend actor guy came back earlier and wanted to get back together, I don’t see any reason the FL would’ve refused cause the main couple’s relationship don’t seem grand and special enough.
-Got Back Together Too Easily/No Tension
I don’t understand why the writer moved so fast past the “will she forgive him and will they be back together” storyline in the beginning. It was personally the most interesting part of the story, I mean this is a second chance romance and we wanna see how they make their way back to each other. But it felt like only a few eps was spent on it, she just forgave him all of a sudden and they were all lovey dovey. There was really no internal tension in their relationship after that and they were just making movies happily?? All of the other problems after this were external like toxic parents, and whatever drama was happening with birth secrets and the other couples. Their love story seemed like a side character at that point.
- Interesting ML Character
I did like what they wanted to do with the ML’s character but couldn’t because of the 2 other couples + dozens of side characters I didn’t really care about. The ML worked and achieved his dream, all he needs is love but the FL never had that chance, they fundamentally have different ambitions in life, she don't see love as the first priority.
His inexplicable attachment to her was always unhealthy imo, and he treated her quite rudely because of it, disregarding her opinions. He only really likes her because she was the only kind person in his life when his family was crazy and he was being abused. He literally thinks she's the only reason for his happiness + the only way he'll be happy is with her, which is not healthy imo. But this did make for a really interesting ML who has to learn that being so attached and doing everything for the FL (like typical drama MLs), suffocating her, is not good. Unfortunately, focusing on a bunch of characters + 12 episode format didn’t allow for much development, and I was sad to see wasted potential
- Side Characters Should be Side Characters/This is Not a 50 Episode Weekend Drama
Another unpopular opinion is I didn’t really care for the 2nd couple even though they were cute. The 3rd couple too is so unnecessary. I miss older romance dramas that didn’t have insane ensemble casts and we had to sit through everyone’s pains and sob stories tbh, just the leads. The story felt like a weekend 50 episode drama that confused on all the characters, but we only have 12 episodes so they should trim it a little. I get having a cute 2nd couple but they took way too much of the story when they’re just as cliche (tortured famous star and humble supportive love interest), then the plot about the 2nd ML’s dad just felt extra, we could’ve developed the leads’ relationship more. The random ex boyfriend cameo when the FL is obviously not gonna leave the ML, creating fake conflict, also unnecessary.
- Chemistry/Acting
No one here stood out for me with acting. The leads especially, I think are just not very strong actors. I felt like I was watching the exact same character Hyeri played in Reply 1988 with the accent and being a bit of a goofy tomboy (I kept thinking I wanna watch that drama instead lol). Hwang Inyeop is himself as usual, having to look perfect in every shot. I didn’t feel like they embodied their characters or had SIZZLING chemistry. I’m no saint and do root for super toxic drama couples IF they have great chemistry, which didn’t happen here. I do think they could’ve had better chemistry if the characters didn’t get together so fast, we could’ve seen more of their past, and there was more tension tho. The only one I liked for acting was 2nd FL and her mother. The 2nd ML was just pretty with the same wide eyed look in every scene, which is good for him.
Spoilers
Unpopular Opinion: Her Going Abroad Made Sense (But the 12 Episode Format Messed It Up)
Even as someone who thinks this drama is incredibly boring and some storylines stupid, I think the FL going abroad was planned from the start and the writers didn't pull it out of their ass as a plot device. The ML was gone for 10 years and got to grow as his own person + learn filmmaking skills. Now it's the FL's turn to do the same. She chooses to stay on the bus this time VERSUS how she got off the bus, missed her film school exam because of him (yes she made the choice, I'm not blaming him, just that this is a contrast to her choosing him vs her dream) This makes perfect sense to me and naturally where the story was heading.
BUT the way they handled the tension and reunion after 2 years was very dumb, rushed, and I think the 12 episode restriction didn’t help. I see this breaking up and going abroad thing working so much better in the 12th episode of a 16 episode drama so they can develop their relationship properly in the remaining 4 episodes with the ML having a healthier mindset + the FL having accomplished what she wanted.
TLDR:
Overall, this wasn’t really THAT horrible for me cause I never had any expectations. I had some moments I was mildly entertained like the movie filming. But I watched this with an emotional detachment from beginning to finish, and don’t think I’ll ever think about it much after.
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feminist female lead is a tired trope
I'm 5 episodes in and it shows all the signs of getting serious & danger is looming on the horizon for the leads. I want to like this. The male lead is nice & I don't care at all about the female lead's real life "scandal" ( whatever her great grandfather & grand father did is totally irrelevant to who & what she is )BUT
I don't like the lead female's character in this drama. It's a cookie cutter same old, same old of they type of female lead that is supposed to be appealing to the modern woman , but I find her completely unlikeable.
I'm on the fence whether or not to continue- so while I decide here are my thoughts on the drama up to this point:
**************Spoilers:
2 things I don't like:
1) it would have been better if the gang had used the grandma as leverage to force the male lead into the gang-or if he had been, like 14 & so easily forgiven for making an unwise decision. as it is, he knew she wouldn't approve & would rather die than have him become a thug. (also: 14 years !!!! oh noooo, he's been a killer that long !? 5 years tops would be the cut off for making him even slightly a smypathetic character.
Female lead : WAS, emphasis on past tense a nice person, but it's not the amnesia that's making her rude /bad attitude. SO he's in love with what she WAS not who she is, though bits of niceness peek through, she is still unlikeable.
That she orders him around: no touching or having other women touch him is ok, but the other bossing him around part- nope, now he's a child /an object to her, while he treats her like an adult she patronizes him
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Wholesome, Weird, and Worth the Watch
I really enjoyed 1000 Years Old. It's colorful, funny, wholesome, and has a relaxed pace that made it an easy show to keep coming back to. More than anything, I enjoyed watching the friendships form and seeing Pun and Yo's relationship slowly grow throughout the series.The vampire lore definitely does its own thing, and some of the supernatural drama gets a little wild, but honestly, it's their vampire story, so why not? What really worked for me was how everything eventually tied back into Pun and Yo's relationship.
The meaning behind 1000 Years Old especially hit differently by the end. Pun hasn't simply loved Yo for one lifetime. He's continued finding him every time he's reborn. If tracking down your soulmate across multiple lifetimes isn't dedication, I don't know what is. 😂
It's sweet, quirky, occasionally ridiculous, and genuinely charming. I had a good time with it and really liked where their story ultimately went.
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A mature and great story
The fact that people are mad about the ending seriously he finds her after few years you see them ridding off in the desert that was enough for me. Leads def have strong chemistry could fell through the screen both strong actors in their own right. I loved how they spoke about the struggles females running a business, being forced into marriage , trying to go to school. I loved all 3 couples. Im sad about nian and hung bo deaths ive watched enough cdramas to know sometimes i favs characters die in the drama. I just think its how actor whole played villian the double did again in this drama. I def recommend this drama ignore the reviews i def rewatch again.Was this review helpful to you?
Unspoilable
I give signal a 10/10 rewatch value , but with a caveat. Put numbers 1-18 in a hat , pull a number and watch the series in whatever order chance decides. This may be the way to decipher this trainwreck. I Titled my review Unspoilable because it is.I read every episode summary on wikipedia , i was non the wiser. I do commend everyone on set for hanging in there , you guys pulled it off ,even got some awards. I Hope my review doesn't change the current 8.8 average because signal is surely an infinite jest.
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Not-So-Dreamy Romance: Too Much Melodrama, Not Enough Character Growth
High school sweethearts reunite in their 30s and find life hasn’t gone as they’d planned. Their shared aspiration of working as a film director became an unexpected reality for one, a crushed dream for the other, and a broken promise that stands between them.The premise is promising and creates some interesting tension between the characters, but the way the story unfolds feels like the series is trying to be too many things at once. Is it a coming-of-age story, romcom, melodrama, family drama? There are multiple elements and subplots at play, but instead of combining into a complex and compelling story, it’s sometimes confusing and disjointed. Two other couples and various family relationships thrown into the mix don’t help matters.
Perhaps the biggest miss is the leads’ lack of character growth between high school and their 30s. If the difficult and traumatic circumstances they experienced during their time apart didn’t change them, what’s the point? The characters, while realistic in the sense that they have both good points and flaws, stay stuck in the same behavior patterns throughout the whole series.
That’s not to say the cast doesn’t deliver decent performances with the script they've been given. Hwang In Youp’s male lead, Woo Soo Bin, is sweet, flirty, and determined to win back his first (and only) love. His patient persistence and the way both he and his mom find the courage to stand up to his abusive father are probably the highlights of the series.
Lee Hye Ri’s female lead, Ju Yi Jae, is also a vivid character, the type whose emotions are always cranked up to the highest level — whether her mood is sunny and enthusiastic or fierce and unapologetic. There’s never a dull moment with her, but her emotional ups and downs can be exhausting to watch.
While the series does have a happy ending, the melodramatic elements (including domestic abuse, a scandalous family secret, a serious medical diagnosis, and a last-minute, illogical breakup) sometimes felt jarring mixed in with the overall romcom vibe. There are some emotional moments that hit hard, but overall the writing comes across as messy. It’s a drama that had potential, but couldn’t decide what direction it wanted to take and suffered from trying to squeeze too much into 12 episodes.
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A Typical Rom Com Kdrama, but Enjoyable
So far this is a cute and enjoyable rom com that is pretty typical for Kdrama rom coms. The cute but naive, somewhat bumbling FL is just kind of all over the place as she wonders through life and work unaware of how her naiveté has such an alluring affect on the two very handsome ML's in the drama. Yea, this is very unrealistic and would never happen in real life, but it's presented in a cute and adorable way.Da Reum goes to work at a fashion company because it was founded by her Kpop idol bias, and it's her life's mission to forever follow and adore him. Once there, she realizes the idol is just the face of the company and in reality it is run by a workaholic CEO who is often cold and distant. The two of them are put into awkward situations, and the cold-hearted CEO begins to warm up to her bright and shining cuteness, not to mention her constant positivity....that is, when she is not being so absent minded he has to rescue her and gets hurt. It's the slap-stick comedic method of having two people fall in love. Only, there's a triangle.....the idol. Now, if this drama weren't unrealistic enough as it is.....we get to jump off a cliff into utter fantasy as the idol falls for the fan!!
At Episode 6, the FL starts to date her idol bias. Honestly, I feel this storyline is the weakest part of the drama because it's so unrealistic, and if this were the entire story, I would probably drop it. But the relationship between the FL and the cold/distant CEO is keeping me watching. These two together are really cute even if they get into some outrageous situations. But right now, the triangle storyline and the two men vying for the FL is the focus. There is a scandal brewing on the horizon, and we still need to catch the Appello corporate mole who is selling secrets to the competition. So there is enough holding me that I"m trying really hard not to be too annoyed at the idol/fan relationship happening because this.....this people....is truly fiction.
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A nothingburger, served frozen
I was really locked in after episode 1. The second chance romance premise was promising and the chemistry had potential. I liked the entertainment industry setting, and visually, it was nice.But everything just fizzled out SO quickly. After they meet again, there’s little to no angst and we don’t feel the emotional weight of the separation at all. The leads kiss in episode 4 and get back together shortly after. There’s basically no time at all dedicated to the characters getting to know each other again after all the time they’ve been apart. And the rest of the drama is pretty much the same for both of them; there is so much that could be explored in their stories but the entire time it feels like we’re just going through the motions. We get one subplot after another like the drama is just throwing whatever at the wall and seeing what sticks. Some of it worked for me (Yi-jae’s insecurity on set) and some of it very much didn’t — a random ex-boyfriend showing up for an entire episode just felt like very lazy writing. He’s no real threat and just took up screentime that could’ve been used for more emotional arcs.
The final episode separation was the nail in the coffin. I think 90% of us viewers already hate this trope, and this one tries to turn it into something beautiful and deep, but I don’t think it worked for me. I didn’t really buy into the “I have to find myself” reasoning and everything felt unearned. It’s sad because I think most leads are pretty good actors and there was potential in their chemistry, but the plot never developed enough for it to be used.
I think the best part of this show ended up being the second couple. There are a few plots that I don’t love that they get roped into (birth secrets, familial illness) but I think the disparity between their characters in the industry made for a much more interesting dynamic. We get to see the development happen much more slowly and clearly as well, and it pays off at the end.
The third couple…I also really didn’t like and couldn’t get invested in. The characters are barely associated with our main leads at all and it felt like the pacing of the drama came to a screeching halt when we cut to them. I understand that the dating show premise is supposed to connect to the TV industry but it just felt super random.
Ultimately, I think this one really dropped the ball. I think it could’ve just focused on one of the plots — cut the birth secret and the third couple, and just have the leads getting to know each other slowly as they work together on the film. The movie they’re working on ends up feeling really unimportant, and it could’ve been interesting if we got to dive more into what the story actually was about and how it parallels their real lives. The main couple really should’ve gotten together much later, and we didn’t need the last act break-up at all.
I’ll give this show props for nice visuals and bright colors, but it gets minus points for the AI usage. How ironic, when the show is supposed to be about people being the heart of filmmaking.
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this is not the same drama that the bad reviews are about
First, there is no infidelity by the FL, she is her own boss and in partnership with her female friend. I don't know what the other reviewers were watching.The warmth and quality acting of all the characters is just about the best I've ever seen. They must be
good friends in real life.
The mother of FL is over the top and unpleasant at first, but the family all laughs together and we realize
that the mother is not a caricature of a naggy mother in law after all. Good character development.
The kid who plays Aiwen is if anything, over the top adorable, perfectly cast and such a good actor that his relationship with the parents seems real. The other kid, Nuomi, is also super cute.
The story line and it's details, job pressures, attitudes about a stay-at-home Dad, are all convincing. No sugar coating of family/work competing pressures.
If anything is idealized, the character development of all the characters, while convincing and often heart-warming, is probably better than what happens to most people in real life where we don't change no matter what.
I have never written a review before although I've watched lots of IQiYi dramas, but I had to correct the bad review sof another drama accidentally posted for this one.
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EPIC From Start to Finish, Teach You a Lesson Completely Blew Me Away!
Wow, what a fantastic series! I absolutely loved Study Group, so when I found out Teach You a Lesson exists in the same universe and had so many people recommending it to me, I knew I had to give it a try. I definitely was not disappointed!I was completely hooked from the beginning to the end. With 10 episodes, the length felt just right. It was not too short, but it never dragged either. What I especially loved was how each episode introduced a different situation, along with new supporting characters and perspectives. We get to see the problems from the viewpoints of school bullies, students, parents and teachers, which kept every episode feeling fresh.
The series explores so many different sides of the education system and school life, including childhood, high school students, school violence, bullying and juvenile delinquency. It also does a great job of showing how complicated these problems can be rather than simply presenting them from one perspective. The social commentary worked really well alongside the action, thriller and comedy elements.
And then we have our main lead, Na Hwa Jin, who was absolutely fantastic. After losing his wife, we gradually learn more about his past through flashbacks throughout the series. I loved how those flashbacks eventually connected together toward the end. It was such a clever way of telling his story and made his character even more meaningful.
The fighting scenes were incredible. Korean dramas seriously know how to deliver action, and this series did not hold back. The fights felt brutal, physical and surprisingly realistic, with plenty of blood and impact. And honestly, watching those bullies finally get what they deserved was SO satisfying!
The other three main characters also brought so much colour and personality to the series. Im Han Rim was intense, unpredictable and thrilling to watch. She was strong, funny and brought so much energy whenever she appeared. Bong Geun Dae was the perfect contrast to the stronger characters. He was nerdy, clumsy and a computer geek, and his personality brought plenty of comedy and charm. Then we have Choi Gang Seok, who was also fantastic and added another strong presence to the team.
What I really appreciated was the balance between the serious themes and the lighter moments. Even though the series tackles school violence, juvenile delinquency, violence against children, the student teacher relationship and problems within the education system, it never became exhausting to watch. The comedy helped balance out the darker material, while the thriller elements kept me wanting to know what would happen next.
Honestly, this is one of the best Korean dramas I have watched. I genuinely cannot find much to fault. It ticked almost every box for me. The production, story, acting, visuals, action and music were all outstanding.
You can tell that an enormous amount of work went into bringing this series to life. There were so many supporting actors and production staff involved, and I am so glad their hard work paid off because the final product was fantastic.
I cried, laughed, got emotional and literally had my jaw dropping during some of the fight scenes. 😂
And that 9.0 rating on MDL says a lot. It is one of the highest rated shows on the site, and honestly, I completely understand why. It absolutely deserves that rating!
If you loved Study Group, I would highly recommend giving Teach You a Lesson a chance. Being part of the same universe makes it even more enjoyable, but even on its own, this is a seriously impressive drama.
10 episodes. Zero boredom. Fantastic characters. Brutal action. Great storytelling. Emotional moments. Comedy. Social commentary.
What an absolute EPIC drama!
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Biased Review, So What
I don't normally enjoy watching short form content, because I love to really be able to sit in a world and learn the characters well. It helps me fall in love with the story and whatever relationship the story is introducing. BUTTTTTT I'm a simple girl sometimes. 10 stars because the chemistry was phenomenal and the characters are gorgeous. This review is completely biased. The end.Was this review helpful to you?
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GAO TU MY LOVE
I think this is the best omegaverse series out there because the way its represented in this one its amazing and i liked how they showed every "gender" also things are a lot more clear to me after watching this. I loved hua yong and shao you because i always love an obsessed top and they were great overall but nothing will ever beat the love i fell for gao tu and shen wenlang and especially for gao tu, the fact that the were both in love with eachother the entire time kills me bc they were never able to say it out loud, mainly because shen wen lang is dumb af and they both dont know how to communicate but i do understand gao tu and i felt so bad for him the entire time and honestly they deserved more screen time bc they're supposed to be a main couple just like hua yong and shao you but they got way less screen time and im so mad because they deserved a continuation after that 30 seconds reunion they had. Overall the acting is good, the ost is good too and if you like omegaverse this is a must watch. :DWas this review helpful to you?
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:)
KinnPorsche is my favourite BL series of all times and sometimes i wonder why but idk honestly. The plot is really good in my opinion and also the budget seemed great but what i love the most is how different and unique the characters are. My favorite couple out of all of them is definitely kimchay: even though their screen time was really short they deserve the world (even if i have a love hate relationship with kim but alright) they are so cute and the only reason why i wanted a season two was to see their story finished and them getting their happy ending finally but sadly the only thing i can do about that is read all the fan fiction in the world :(. As for the others i loved all of them because i love how the story develops even if sometimes it is a little weird but amen ig, the ending was great except for my beloveds and i think that every mafia bl series made after this and compared to this is just inferior because this is THE mafia series. (its always funny to me how for some reason everyone is gay but thats just how thai bl series work)Was this review helpful to you?
good good BAD BAD? probably
Have you ever watched one of those dramas, which you cannot really name anything great about it but you still know you enjoyed watching it? Well, this was the one for me.To be frank, I was waiting for this drama for so long because I LOVE the cast and aside from the storyline, I believe Inyoup and Hyeri look perfect together; however, it did not go as well as I expected it.
The show had a promising start, but by time passing, something was feeling off.
The first thing, which bothered me so much was Wu Soobin's character. I know everyone was saying he had a hard childhood and all but I really couldn't understand how he was behaving in the first episodes and the decisions he was making. He did love the female lead but he had absolutely no idea how to love her. He did get better tho.
The storyline itself was... idk. Okay? I did like the atmosphere of the drama and it did have a GOOD plot twist in the middle, which I hope you watch it without seeing any spoilers; but somehow everything felt out of the place and the last 4 episodes became so boring, unlike the first 8 episodes, which I can say I enjoyed watching, relatively.
The cinematography was perfect and the 2nd couple were literally on fire; however I generally feel like the existence of the 3rd couple was so unnecessary. It didn't add anything to the drama. They were literally there...to be there.
All in all, it was an okayish drama. I kept watching for the visuals not gonna lie, and I don't regret it, but they did waste the potential the story and the cast had.
I wouldn't recommend it highly but if you have time and you love the cast, I don't think it would be a bad idea to give it a try!
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